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the musicians' dilemma in Spotify's pay-to-play plan

Written by John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra

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Spotify offered the promise that, in the age of digital downloads, all artists would get paid for their music, and some would get paid a lot.

Lorde and Billie Eilish showed what was possible.

Lorde was just 16 when, in 2012, she uploaded her debut EP to SoundCloud. A few months later, Sean Parker (of Napster and Facebook fame) put her...

Best AI Answering Services for Small Businesses in 2026 (Compared)
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Why a second global shipping chokepoint could soon live up to its name as the ‘Gate of Tears’
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The Fair Work Commission has abolished junior rates of pay for most over 18s. It’s a positive step
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KiwiSaver payments have to rise – but earners shouldn’t be penalised if they can’t afford it
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Why Local Procurement is the New Competitive Advantage for Australian Builders
For years, Australian construction firms relied heavily on global supply chains to source materials at the lowest possible …
Why Queensland Agribusinesses Are Rethinking Their Airborne Particulate Management
For agribusinesses operating across Queensland, managing environmental factors is a daily reality. However, one specific ch…

Traditions of Rural Bali at Villa Sabana
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Essential Reasons to Opt for a Professional Valuation Before Selling Your Commercial Property
In the dynamic world of real estate, commercial properties hold a pivotal position. They represent not only a significant financial asset but also a crucial business investment. When contemplating the…

Is education or immigration the answer to our skills shortage? We asked 50 economists
Wes Mountain/The Conversation, CC BY-NDThis article is part of The Conversation’s series looking at Labor’s jobs summit. Read the other articles in the series here.Investing in Australians’ education is far…
Why outdated security leaves small businesses exposed to crime
Small and medium businesses in Australia are under increasing pressure to address security gaps that criminals readily exploit. An unlocked door, an unmonitored camera, or a site left empty overnight…
The Unbreakable Rules of Social Media Marketing
Social media marketing is exploding as brands are now realizing the potential behind getting involved in building online communities through blogging & social networks participation. Many people like to make…

Work-life Balance Key to Solving Construction Talent Shortage

New data from leading talent company Randstad Australia shows flexible working and work-life balance could be critical to addressing ongoing talen...

How to Apply for More Jobs in Less Time Using AI Automation

Most job seekers spend 11 to 14 hours per week on applications and still hear nothing back. That's not a motivation problem. That's a process proble...

Why Middle Australia Is Quietly Driving the Shift Away From Car Ownership

The narrative around changing attitudes to car ownership has long focused on Gen Z. Younger Australians are often portrayed as the generation movi...

Launchd Acquires WeAreTENZING as ANZ Creator Economy Spend Nears $1 Billion

Launchd, Australia's leading talent-first creator economy group, has acquired WeAreTENZING, one of New Zealand's most respected talent agencies, b...

Time to punch above our weight and stop shadowboxing on AI

Australia prides itself on being an innovation economy. We celebrate startups, talk about productivity, and lean into our reputation for punching ...

Colter Bay Capital Launches as Australia’s Newest Institutional Private Credit Fund

Led by seasoned capital markets veteran Mark Wang, the fund is purpose-built to serve Australia’s most productive yet chronically underserved busi...

the musicians' dilemma in Spotify's pay-to-play plan

Best AI Answering Services for Small Businesses in 2026 (Compared)

Why a second global shipping chokepoint could soon live up to its name as the ‘Gate of Tears’

The Fair Work Commission has abolished junior rates of pay for most over 18s. It’s a positive step

KiwiSaver payments have to rise – but earners shouldn’t be penalised if they can’t afford it

Why Local Procurement is the New Competitive Advantage for Australian Builders

Why Queensland Agribusinesses Are Rethinking Their Airborne Particulate Management

Traditions of Rural Bali at Villa Sabana

Essential Reasons to Opt for a Professional Valuation Before Selling Your Commercial Property

Is education or immigration the answer to our skills shortage? We asked 50 economists

Why outdated security leaves small businesses exposed to crime

The Unbreakable Rules of Social Media Marketing

Work-life Balance Key to Solving Construction Talent Shortage

How to Apply for More Jobs in Less Time Using AI Automation

Why Middle Australia Is Quietly Driving the Shift Away From Car Ownership

Launchd Acquires WeAreTENZING as ANZ Creator Economy Spend Nears $1 Billion

Time to punch above our weight and stop shadowboxing on AI

Colter Bay Capital Launches as Australia’s Newest Institutional Private Credit Fund

How Contiki is Redefining Travel for Young Adventurers

Navigating the Cosmetic Advertising Crackdown Before September Guidelines Hit

Defining Actionable AI for Australian IT Efficiency and Security